Visible index devices



R, D. ANsPAcl-l VISIBLEJNDX DEVICES' April 2,- 1957` Filed Feb; 25, 1955 This invention relates to visible index and record equipment of the type embodying -a trameor the like holder having side flanges defining channels lfor `endwise reception of flexible and replaceable index `strips arranged in parallel juxtaposition.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide index strips of the class described constructed in a manner whereby theyare adapted to receive and retain externally-embracing slidable signal means for cooperation with indicia `carried by the strip, ina manner whereby such signal means are Vfreely slidable over the full length of the strip and do not interfere with similar signals carried by an adjacent strip.

Various means have heretofore been proposed for spacing index strips, or portions thereof, topermit free translation of embracing slidable signals carried by adjacent strips, such as partial cut-outs or-wire or other spacer means, all ot which limited full use or free interchange of the strips and .complicated and limited utility.

In accordance with the present invention I provide novel index strips `of unitary character, having a uniform cross-section throughoutltheir length and which thus may be economically formed ofsheet material or by extrusion, and which may be quickly and conveniently mounted in side-by-side relation in a flanged frame.

The index strips of the present invention may be initially formed in desired lengths, or formed of continuous strip material severed to desired length, and are characterized by body components integral lwith laterallyprojecting, longitudinally-extending `base portions serving to space adjacent indicia-carrying body components when the strips are mounted in a frame. These strip units are further characterized by an opposed pair of longitudinally-extending outwardly-.opening grooves, generally separating or deiining the body component from the base strip portion, for engagement and slidable reception of inturned flanges or return bent ends of external or overriding signals. `ln this manner the overriding signals are held in secure engagement `withitheir index strips, are maintained in spaced relationship :to the supporting tray and thus free from frictional or binding engagement therewith, and the overriding embracing signals carried by one strip are freely movable with respect to like or similar signals mounted on an adjacent strip.

The indicia-carrying body components `of the unitary index strips of the present invention may suitably be of the slotted tube type so that replaceable indicia-carrying strips may be inserted within the tube, and if desired, slidable strip signals may additionally be inserted within the tube. Thus, by providing slidablesignals within the tube and overriding signals above or in embracing engagement with the tube, multiple indicia signalling may be practiced on a single `unit. Further, these slidable signals may beof contrasting color toeach other and to the index strip. Similarly the adjacent index strips may be all of the same color, or one ormore of them-may be of different color.

The index-strips may suitably be formed -of substan- 2,787,068 litatented Apr. 2, 1957 tially transparent plastic material, such as, for example, of methylmethacrylate, so that there may be employed, in combination, a lined or unlined paper-backing on the tray beneath the strips, capable of receiving indicia which will show through the transparent strips and `act as a schedule or guidewhen no material is carried by the body or slotted tube strip component.

Although the overriding slidable signals may be composed of strips of flexible material of Vsingle thickness, as another feature of the present invention I provide overriding signals of clear plastic material provided with a pocket for reception of strips lof colored material, which in addition to being capable of receiving indicia markings or imprints, permits ready exchange of desired coloring.

Other objects and advantages ofthe present invention together with the economies thereof and arrangementof parts and details will be lapparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational View showing a visible index frame with index strips and slidable signals mounted thereon in accordance with the present invention.

lig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational View of one or the index strips of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective viewot an overriding slidable signal with a pocket.

Fig. 5 is a section on the lineS-S of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is -a fragmentary front Aelevational view similar to that of Fig. l, further illustrating lthe use of an indiciacarrying sheet `mounted in the frame beneath transparent index strips.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of amoditied form of index strip.

Fig.` 8 is "a transversesection of another moditied `form of index strip.

Referring to the drawings, the reference `numeral It) generally indicates a supporting `tray or frame provided with side flanges llt-l1 disposed in spaced relation along the side edges of the tray l to deline channels or recesses for reception of the ends of the index strips, generally designated as 13. `These index strips are suitably of a relatively rigid character but flexible to a degree so that they may be arcuately ilexed and foreshortened to permit insertion of their ends beneath flanges 11-11. The upper and lower edges of the frame are further provided with the internal llanges 12-#12 disposed against the `tace of frame l@ to provide stop members for the received index strips.

lt will be further understood, although not shown, that frame it? may be provided with a similar pairof lian-ges lit-ll on the opposed tace, and that the frame may be provided with hingeor` pintle means on either a longitudinal ortransverse edgeffor engagementwith a suitable stand, cabinet or the likeholder means for a plurality of trays, or that the trays may be provided `withor without means for use orisupport `of single trays.

The index strips 13 of the presentinvention 'comprise an upper body portion `lli-which as shown inthe drawings, is in the form of aslotted tube andan integral base portion which is lof equalnlength to` the tbody `portion 1d butwider so that aipair ot laterally-projecting, longi-` tudinally-extending flanges lfS-ll' are provided, -the upper body and base portions being generally detinedby theupair ot longitudinally extending exteriorv grooves 116-16 lfor the reception and engagement `of `the inturned t lflanges M -17 of overriding slidable signal strips 18, orthefin- `turned flanges V@-19 of overriding slidable signalsfz.

Although the slidable signals 18, and subsequentlydescribed signals123aredesirably formed of colored material for contrasting or attention arresting purposes, and

signal is employed for like purpose, signal 20 is formed of transparent plastic material but is constructed to exchangeably receive and carry an insert for signalling purposes. Thus the top of the signal is formed with an endwise flap or extension which is return bent beneath the face of the signal so as to lie parallel thereto on the underside and held in resilient flexible relationship thereagainst from its hinge line 26. This flap Z5 may be readily fixed manually to replaceably receive inserts 27 which may be of desired color and inscribed or printed with suitable indicia, as desired, providing great Veconomy and versatility in use.

As will be apparent from the sectional view of Fig. 2,

wardly open rectilinear chamber 21 for reception of indicia bearing strip of paper or other material 'if desired, a slidable flat signal 23 may also be positioned within the chamber Z1 over the strip ZZ and translated through the slot opening. The modified form of Fig. 7 is essentially the same as that of Fig. 2 and may similarly be extruded as a unit from a suitable plastic, or if desired, may be Iinitially formed of two separate components, one of a ilattened slotted tube body portion and the other a iiat base strip and the two bonded together as a unit on the dotted line 2d. As a further alternative the index strip may be formed of a strip of sheet material and bent and fixed in a cross-sectional contour similar to that of the two previously described forms, and of substantially :equal utility, as shown in Fig. 8.

The overriding slidable signals may be manually translated, and if desired, signal 18 may be provided with an aperture 27 for reception of the point of a pencil or stylus to aid in such manipulation. internal signal 23a may likewise be formed with an aperture or protuberance v 28 for like purpose.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, I may first insert a sheet 2% in the tray I0, inscribed with indicia which shows through transparent index strips 13 when no material is in the tubes thereof to act as aschedule or guide. This indicia on sheet 28 may be in the form of a lined sheet, or an unlined sheet with inscribed matter thereon.

Although the illustration of Fig. l shows a single slidable signal on an index strip, it will be understood that a plurality of them in various combinations may be employed, and I have thus provided a multiple indicia signally units for visible records, such as salary, inventory, production control, credit information, and the like records wherein frequent changes occur. I

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my device, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

l. An elongated flexible visible index strip comprising a body component for reception of indicia land a supporting base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting iianges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components and adapted to receive therein the linturned ends of slidable signals mounted on said body component.

2. An elongated exible visible index strip comprising a slotted tubular body component for reception of indicia and a supporting base component 1including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with 'an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components and adapted to receive therein the inturned ends of slidable signals mounted on said body component.

3. In visible index and record means, an elongated .flexible index strip composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves genorally defining said components, and an overriding slidable signal mounted on said body component including inturned flanges received in said grooves.

4. In visible index and record means, an elongated flexible index strip composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting iianges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components, and an overriding slidable signal mounted on said body component including inturned flanges received in said grooves formed of transparent material and further including a downward returnbent flexible flap in hinged engagement with a transverse edge thereof adapted to receive and resiliently retain a replaceable indicia insert.

5. A slidaole signal for visible index equipment, comprising a substantially U-shaped strip of flexible transparent material, the terminal ends being inturned for embracing engagement with a signal strip, and including a flexible return-bent flap in hinged engagement with a transverse edge thereof disposed under the base of the U and substantially contiguous therewith and in a plane spaced from that common to said terminal ends, adapted to receive and resiliently retain a replaceable indicia insert.

6. in visible index and record means, an elongated slotted tubular transparent flexible index strip composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components, an overriding slidable signal mounted on said body component including inturned flanges received in said grooves, and an indicia str-ip seated within said tubular body cornponent.

7. in visible index and record means, an elongated slotted tubular transparent flexible index strip composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting anges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components, an overriding slidable signal mounted on said body comportent including inturned flanges received in said grooves, an indicia strip seated within said tubular body component, and a slidable signal str-ip of contrasting color disposed over said indicia strip within said tubular cornponent.

8. In visible index and record means, a panel, a pair of flanges on said panel to define opposing trough shaped recesses, and a plurality of flexible index strips mounted Von said panel having their ends engaged in said trough shaped recesses, said index strips being composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components and adapted to receive therein the inturned ends of slidable signals mounted on said body components, the base flanges of adjacent index strips being disposed in contiguous relationship with the body components of adjacent strip in spaced relationship.

9. In visible index and record means, a panel, a pair ot' flanges on said panel to define opposing trough shaped recesses, a plurality of transparent flexible index strips mounted on said panel having their ends engaged in said trough shaped recesses, said index strips being composed of a slotted tubular bodyl component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extendng grooves generally defining said components and adapted to receve therein the inturned ends of slidable signals mounted on said body components, the base flanges of adjacent index strips being disposed in contiguous relationship with the body components of adjacent strip in spaced relationship, and an indicia-bearing sheet on said panel and beneath the transparent index strips mounted thereon.

l0. ln visible index and record means, a` panel, a pair of flanges on said panel to deline opposing trough shaped recesses, a plurality of llexible index strips mounted on said panel having their ends engaged in said trough shaped recesses, said index strips being composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components and adapted to receive therein the inturned ends of slidable signals mounted on said body components, the base anges of adjacent index strips being disposed in contiguous relationship with the body components of adjacent strip in spaced relationship, and overriding slidable signals mounted on some of the body components of said index strips including inturned flanges received in said grooves.

1l. In visible index and record means, a panel, a pair of flanges on said panel to define opposing trough shaped recesses, a plurality of exible index strips mounted on said panel having their ends engaged in said trough shaped recesses, said index strips being composed of a body component for reception of indicia, an integral base component including longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting flanges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally defining said components and adapted to receive therein the inturned ends of slidable signals mounted on said body components, the base flanges of adjacent index strips being disposed in contiguous relationship with the body components of adjacent strip in spaced relationshi overriding slidable signals mounted on some of the body components of .said index strips including inturned flanges received in said grooves formed of transparent material and further including a downward return-bent flexible flap in hinged engagement with a transverse edge thereof adapted to receive and resiliently retain a replaceable indicia insert.

12 in visible index and record means, a panel, a pair of flanges on said panel to dene opposing trough shaped recesses, a plurality of transparent flexible index strips mounted on said panel having their ends engaged in said trough shaped recesses, said index strips being composed of a slotted tubular body component and an integral base component including a pair of longitudinally-extending laterally oppositely projecting base lian-ges, said strip being exteriorly formed with an opposed pair of longitudinally extending grooves generally dening said components, overriding slidable signals mounted on some of the body components of saidindex strips including inturned flanges received in said grooves, indicia strips seated Within some of said tubular body components, and slidable signal strips disposed over some of said indicia strips within said tubular body components.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

